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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With the overcrowded conditions of conventional golf courses, the expense
of play and the time required to play a round of golf, a number of people
have recognized the need for providing a compact form of golf course which
is less expensive due to use of less land, allows multiple players to
speed up the time and as a result of the two, reduces the cost to the golf
player. A number of patents have been issued for compact golf courses
which include the following:
______________________________________
U.S. Pat. No. Issued Inventor
______________________________________
3,129,943 April 21, 1964 McKee
3,310,310 March 21, 1967 McKee
3,464,703 Sept. 2, 1969 Vallas
3,685,832 Aug. 22, 1972 Johnson
3,904,209 Sept. 9, 1975 Thomas
3,999,764 Dec. 28, 1976 Nitsche
4,019,748 April 26, 1977 Healey
4,063,738 Dec. 20, 1977 Michalson
4,129,300 Dec. 12, 1978 Magnuson
4,192,510 March 11, 1980 Miller
4,283,056 Aug. 11, 1981 Miller
______________________________________
Each of these patents disclose golf courses requiring significantly less
ground than a standard golf course, and often to varying degrees appear to
achieve the objective of faster play and reduced cost.
It would appear from the study of these patents that many of them go to a
great extent to simulate play of the golf course and may attempt to
provide an atmosphere of isolation through the use of natural and
artificial barriers between player tees providing a degree of simulation
of play of a conventional golf course. While a number of these objectives
have been attained, at least partially, the compact golf course has not
reached any significant acceptance in the golf community as noted by their
absence from the modern day golf scene. In a typical metropolitan area,
one will find public and private full size golf courses, par three or
reduced yardage golf courses and driving ranges but this inventor has yet
to see a single operating compact golf course of the type disclosed in the
above patents.
In my parent application referenced above, several patents were referenced
relative to various forms of golf courses and swing actuated training
devices. They include:
______________________________________
U.S. Pat. No. Issued Inventor
______________________________________
1,851,423 March, 1932 Ely
2,003,074 May, 1935 Gage
2,248,053 July, 1941 Bales
3,216,726 Nov., 1965 Anderson et al
3,314,679 April, 1967 Kolln
3,820,133 June, 1974 Adorney et al
______________________________________
Recognizing the continuing need for compact golf courses and after further
study of the features of the several disclosures, this inventor finds that
his basic concept provides features not present in any prior compact golf
course designs and in fact provides a game of golf which is superior in a
number of respects to the conventional golf game.
For a compact course to function successfully and with enthusiastic public
acceptance, since all fairway shots are made from the player's one single
tee, and since with a compact course he can't go out to where he has hit
the ball and appraise the remaining play from there, it becomes essential
for the player to know accurately how far he has advanced the ball. This
basic essential requirement is readily recognized when you try to
visualize, from an eye level of five and one half feet, accurately
determining the distance to a one and one half inch diameter ball as
distant as the combined length of up to two to three football fields.
Another analogy--seeing the accurate distance to a ball as far away as
between two to three times the distance between home plate and the
outfield fence of a baseball field; or to see its location between
horizontal lines, which at that distance and angle have no distinction
between them. Until my invention, herein set forth, means for accurately
knowing at the tee location, the distance of long hit balls has not been
effectively made a part of golf.
The need for a solution to this problem was emphasized unsuccessfully in
the prior art by Gage way back fifty years ago. In his U.S. Pat. No.
2,003,074, he calls for a boy to sit on a tall pole and call back to the
player the distance hit. This was not successful, particularly when there
were multiple tees. The boy would be yelling his head off as well as
distracting the other players. Also, if two players at different tees hit
simultaneously, the boy would have a problem. The solution is provided by
this inventor using closed circuit television and a supplemental device,
neither of which are found in any of the prior art.
In the prior patents, fairway targets were shown raised to provide some
means of seeing long hit balls. This was inadequate. It also blocked the
view to balls hit beyond the raised targets. However, it again emphasized
the need for adequate means of seeing accurately the true distance of long
hit balls.
This prior art does not disclose any closed circuit television aid in which
the tees each have associated therewith an illuminatable tee sign and one
or more television cameras are located down field and directed towards the
tees. None have a switch actuated by the player's swing which serves to
illuminate the tee number sign so that the player, as he completes his
swing, can look at the television monitor and immediately pick out his tee
location by viewing the illuminated tee number sign as seen by the
television cameras. It is therefore easier for him to pick out and follow
his ball in flight knowing its source location, namely his own tee, on the
monitor screen.
Also, with the golfer's continuing desire to improve his ball striking
ability, he has lacked an aid not provided in the previous patents, that
is, to know with reliable accuracy how far he has hit a ball each time
with the same club, and have means of recording same, and then he can
pinpoint improvement. The composite of my invention provides this aid.
Also, previous inventors have not made provision for comparable multiple
chipping and pitching and putting greens with sand trap play which are
introduced as component parts of my invention, and greatly increase play
capacity.
This prior art does not disclose any comparable simplified, maintenance
free water hazard arrangement for retrieving golf balls from the water
hazard, as is provided for in my subject invention, which resolves past
attempts in the previous patents, going back many years of complicated
mechanical devices that proved to be impractical.
None of the above disclose a double ended golf course using the same area
for two oppositely directional courses.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This inventor has, he believes, eliminated some of the inherent weakness in
the prior attempts to attain a satisfactory compact golf course and to
provide a more interesting play than even conventional golf. He employs a
generally rectangular course of varying dimensions and having as a typical
size 100 yards in width by 400 yards in length, exclusive of service, club
house and parking areas. The layout is generally rectangular which makes
it most adaptable to available real estate but is not limited to such a
shape. The layout includes a number, for example 20 tees, each directed
toward a fairway of at least 300 yards in length and 100 yards in width. A
number of yardage indicators which may be in the form of yard lines are
provided as well as targets at varying ranges from 50 to 300 yards from
the tees. The targets may take the form of simulated green and pin.
Hazards and rough areas on the fairway are provided and an out-of-bound
line on each side of the fairway is present. Within short walking distance
in back of the tees are a plurality of chipping or pitching greens with
arcuate lines defining varying distances from the pitching green, namely
50 to 20 yards. One or more putting greens are also provided. A number of
television cameras are directed at the fairway allowing the player to
follow and locate his ball in flight and on landing to determine the
ball's relation to the fairway yardage lines in order to properly record
its range. A television monitor is located at each tee for viewing by
players in observing their balls. For night play, in addition to overall
lighting, there is enhanced lighting to aid television detection of the
balls in flight.
An improved water hazard is also disclosed as well as an improved tee
station.
I have further determined that the closed circuit television aid for the
players is enhanced when the television cameras are located at the end of
the course, directed toward the fairway and tees, and each of the tees has
a large tee number sign with the tee's number associated therewith, which
is illuminated responsive to the golfer's swing. The course, the ball in
flight and the illuminated tee number sign is visible on the closed
circuit television monitor located at the tee.
I have also developed an alternate form of course which further increases
the playing capacity, employing in the order of twenty or more putting
greens and ten or more chipping and pitching greens, arranged in parallel
array but with contouring when desired.
I have further disclosed and claimed a double ended course allowing double
the amount of play on a non-interference basis.
In accordance with the method of this invention, the player is given a
number of distinctive balls sufficient for a round of nine or eighteen
holes. He selects a particular course which, from a brochure of prominent
courses, he intends to select one to simulate playing. The player drives
his first tee shot and records the distance attained and any penalty if he
enters a trap or lands out of bounds. He substrates the yardage attained
from the yardage remaining on a hole of his selected course and then takes
his second or fairway shot, and again subtracts the yardage attained from
the remaining yardage to that hole. When he reaches 50 yards or less from
the hole, but does not hit onto the target green, he moves to the chipping
green at the appropriate distance on the arcuate line play areas and chips
or pitches to the green, recording each shot numerically. If he lands on
the target green in his fairway play, he moves to one of the putting
greens to putt out and records his play for the hole. He and his playing
partners return to the tee reserved for them and proceed to play the next
hole in like manner. The play may be by a foursome, threesome, pair or
single player without affecting performance. The scorecard reflects not
only the number of strokes required for each hole but also the yardage and
quality of shot obtained for each fairway club used, and the number of
putts. Alternate embodiments involve a double ended course and a
trapezoidal shaped course.
The method of this invention involves the use of novel scorecards which
allow the player to select one from a number of prominent courses,
complete the par value and yardage of each course hole and record the
clubs used and his own performance on each stroke for later analysis and
comparison with previous rounds. The completed scorecard therefore
provides a rather complete record of each round and a basis for analysis
of his game development.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
This invention may be more clearly understood from the following detailed
description and by reference to the drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compact golf course in accordance with
this invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;
FIG. 2A is a plan view of an alternate trapezoidal embodiment of this
invention;
FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment double ended layout of this invention;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a single tee;
FIG. 5 is a sectioned perspective view of a novel water hazard in
accordance with this invention;
FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of the closed circuit television
system of this invention;
FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram of the supplemental lighting visual
aid of this invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment including a
rearranged form of the closed circuit television monitoring, and the
chipping and pitching, and putting green layout;
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a double ended course incorporating the
alternate embodiment of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate tee showing an enlarged
illuminated number of the tee;
FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an alternate form of closed circuit TV camera
selection device at the closed circuit monitor arrangement;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the closed circuit
television cameras at the end of the course;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a compact golf course in accordance with
this invention employing multiple television cameras on individual poles
at the end of the course.
FIGS. 14-16 are three simulated views of the monitor views to the player as
he selects different monitors.
FIG. 17 is the front of a scorecard particularly designed for this
invention;
FIG. 18 is the back thereof;
FIG. 19 is the front of a completed scorecard; and
FIGS. 20 and 21 are views of the front of performance record cards for use
with this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Now for a clear understanding of this invention, attention is directed
toward FIG. 1 which provides somewhat of an aerial view of the basic
elements of this invention including club house, service area and parking.
The compact golf course in accordance with this invention, generally
designated 10, comprises a tee area 11 including a number of individual
tees designated A-G for convenience. The tees face a fairway generally
designated 12 including perimeter fences denoted by lines 13L and 13R, and
out of bound lines 14L and 14R. We have a number of yardage indicators
shown for convenience as yardage lines 15, preferably located at 20 yard
intervals from the tees 11. Also present in the fairway are a plurality of
targets 16A through 16K. The targets are shown as being 11 in number,
however there is nothing critical about the particular number or location
of the targets other than that they are at varying distances from the tees
in the fairway. A number of sand traps designated S, and one or more water
hazards designated W, are present in the fairway to provide natural
hazards in play. The rough strips designated in FIGS. 2A and 3 as ROUGH
region is preferably mowed at a higher level than the fairway to
accurately represent rough.
In FIG. 1 shown adjacent to the tees 11 but located at any place in the
region to the rear of the tees are a pair of putting greens 20L and 20R
designated by the letters P and a number of chipping or pitching greens 21
designated by the letter C. The chipping or pitching greens 21 are
preferably located at the side perimeter of the course. Between the
chipping and pitching greens 21 to the left and 21 to the right in FIG. 1
is a central walkway 23 from the tee area along a curved arc and a number
of chipping or pitching positions 22 at varying distances from the
several, for example, 6 chipping greens 21. The arcuate curved chipping or
pitching lines 22 allow the players to position themselves at any correct
distance from the chipping or pitching pin corresponding to the remaining
distance after the last fairway shot. If the remaining distance is about
43 yards, the player positions himself along either of the arcuate lines,
slightly closer to the 40 indicator than the 50 yard mark. The large
number of chipping or pitching greens and the continuously variable
chipping distances allows a number of players to chip or pitch
simultaneously without interfering with each other. Adjacent to the
chipping or pitching greens 21 are the putting greens 20L and 20R, either
of which the player may use. As shown in FIG. 1, the putting greens are
located near the tees 11 as is usually found in conventional full courses,
but the location of the greens may be moved to accommodate the particular
terrain in which the course is located.
Now referring to FIG. 2, two other aspects of this invention may be seen.
In addition to the tees 11, yardage lines 15 and greens 20 and 21, the
fairway targets 16A-K may be seen more clearly. They each include a pin or
flag and are located at 25 yard range intervals from the tee line 11. The
target greens 16 are 20 to 40 yards in radius and include an outer circle
of a 10 yard radius and an inner circle of 3 yards.
Certain other features of this invention may also be seen in FIG. 2. A
number of closed circuit television cameras 40A-J are located at the
perimeter of the course 10 with suitable protection from stray balls, and
are directed toward the fairway 12. The cameras 40 cover the fairway
region and aid the player in picking out his ball, and in accurately
determining the distance of each shot. The television cameras give him a
closer view to determine accurately the distance he has hit the ball. Said
cameras may have zoom capability and in such case, where controls are
available to the player, he may have a close-up look at his ball. Since it
is the practice of using distinctively marked balls for each player, the
identification of a player's ball is even easier with said television
cameras. As shown in FIG. 2, a total of 10 television cameras are used but
this number may vary depending upon the requirements of the particular
course.
FIG. 6 shows a simplified block diagram of the television camera and
monitor system. The several cameras 40 are all connected by cables 41 to
the selector switch 93A at the monitor 92 at each tee. The selector switch
93 at each tee allows players to connect any of the cameras to the local
monitor 92 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 2 also shows a basic lighting system used for night play and a
supplemental play actuated visual and lighting system as shown in FIGS. 4
and 7. The basic lighting system includes drop or fluorescent lighting at
each tee designated 50, and banks of elevated flood lights 51-54 directed
at the fairway 12, with lights 55 directed at the chipping or pitching and
putting greens.
In addition to this basic lighting, a number, for example 8 lights 60-67,
are located immediately beside the perimeter of the course and are
actuated by play to energize the supplemental lighting whenever a ball is
driven.
The lights 60-67 provide the supplemental lighting under the control of the
players as is described below.
FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of this invention which is
double-ended. In FIG. 3 the same or a slightly longer fairway 12 is used
than in the case of FIG. 1. This embodiment differs in that an additional
set of tees 111, chipping greens 121 and putting greens 122 are present at
the opposite end of fairway 12. The fairway range markers 15 bear
designations indicating the distance from either end. The targets 16 also
bear dual distance designations to be observed by the golfer at the tees
and by the cameras.
The double ended course of FIG. 3 may include the television aid of this
invention as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 8 and 13. Preferably the
television cameras are located at opposite ends of the course adjacent to
the tees and directed toward the fairway region. The television cameras at
one end are connected as by cables to the monitors at the tees.
This version of my invention, requiring only about 20 percent additional
real estate, increases the number of tees by 100 percent. Each of the
other features of this invention remain in the embodiment of FIG. 3.
Referring now to FIG. 4, one form of tee may be seen in the form of a booth
generally designated 80 including boundary side walls 81 and 82 which form
common walls with adjoining tee booths. The booths 80 are preferably
covered by a roof 83 for sun and rain protection for the players. A bench
84 is provided for other members of the player's party and rack 85 for
golf bags may be present. The front of the booth 80 includes some form of
turf 86, either natural or artificial, for fairway shots. It also may
receive golf tees for tee shots. A central tee region 90, similar to
driving ranges, may be provided, or the entire front area may be of turf.
The booth 80 also includes a course layout board 91, preferably attached to
the wall 82, and having a number of large layouts for prominent courses of
the world. The players may select the course they wish to simulate play
and display the appropriate layout on the wall throughout play. The
precision needed to play such courses is simulated in this invention by
the targets 16 toward which all tee and fairway shots should be directed.
Thus, the presence of targets on the fairway adds a new dimension to the
game of golf by providing a value measure for each shot as well as mere
range and position. Being able to determine accurately the distance that
balls are hit is a principal factor in this game.
I have provided closed circuit television for monitoring the flight and
position of the ball. This is in the form of the television cameras 40 A-J
of FIG. 2 and the television monitor 92 of FIG. 4. The monitor 92 is
located in the booth at an elevated position, out of playing areas and
generally available to the player's normal field of view when tracking the
flight of his ball. Location of the monitor 92 may, of course, be selected
to provide the best view for the players. In FIG. 6, since a number of
television cameras 40A-C indicated herein are in operation, a channel
selector switch 92B is provided to allow the players to select the
appropriate camera. This may be done before taking the shot if the
player's shot is predictable, or immediately after the shot while the ball
is in flight.
Under conditions of night play, normal lighting may be insufficient to
provide a clear image in the television system. In such case the
supplemental lighting system of FIG. 2 is energized for a period
approximating the longest flight and for sufficient time to follow the
roll and clearly identify and locate the player's ball. In its preferred
form the play activated switch includes a light source 95 secured overhead
to wall 81, and a photo electric cell 96 secured in alignment with the
light source on the opposite wall 82. Located overhead above the player's
head, the passage of the club through the light path 95A interrupts the
light beam and triggers the supplemental lighting just as the player
strokes to hit the ball.
The play actuated lighting system appears in FIG. 7. It comprises a play
actuated switch 97 in combination with the light source 95 and photocell
96 located in each booth. This switch combination acts through a delay
device such as a slow acting relay 98 to light the supplemental lighting
system 60-67. After a predetermined period of time, e.g. 16 seconds, a
reset circuit 99 extinguishes the supplemental lighting until another golf
club swing has again energized the system.
FIG. 5 shows an improved form of hazard which is directly applicable to
this course or may be used on a conventional course as well. It is a
shallow lake water hazard having a solid bottom such as gunite type
concrete. The water hazard, generally designated 100, is located in the
fairway 101 and gives the same general appearance as a natural water
hazard. It is, however, only a few inches deep and has a hard yet
resilient bottom 102, preferably of concrete. The depth varies from 3 to 8
inches in my preferred embodiment. The lake or water hazard 100 may be
static with just makeup water added to maintain the level of water between
3 and 8 inches in depth, or it may include a recirculating system 104 as
disclosed in FIG. 5 including a pump and motor combination in an equipment
vault 105 indicated in dashed lines, supply 110 and return 111 lines.
The tapered bottom of the water hazard 100 allows balls which land and
remain in the hazard to roll along the bottom to a collection point for
ease of recovery. Balls may be easily seen and recovered when the course
is not in use, or ball recovery may be made by standard mobile ball
retrievers rolling through the hazard to easily recover the balls. The
shallow depth and normal bottom visibility allows recovery of the balls in
just a few seconds.
When a ball hits the water of a water hazard, the golfer marks "W" on his
scorecard when he records the length of that shot, and counts one stroke
penalty. His yardage is where his ball hits the water.
In another embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 8, the layout of the
chipping or pitching greens C and putting greens P may be seen as
different, in that they are all straight narrow lanes. The chipping or
pitching approach lanes and greens C are in the order of 70 yards in
length including the sand, with 10 of the adjacent chipping or pitching
approach lanes and greens located on approximately a 50 yard wide area,
which allows approximately 5 yards of width for each chipping green. If,
during fairway play, his ball hits a fairway sandtrap, he initiates his
play from the sand located across the ends of the "C" lanes. Each of the
10 chipping or pitching lanes are marked off at 10 yard intervals from the
pin, which allows each player to position himself at any correct distance
from the chipping-pitching pin corresponding to the remaining distance
after his last fairway shot. If, for example, the remaining distance is 43
yards, he positions himself at that distance in the lane to chip or pitch
to the pin and putts out. The chipping green C may be level or contoured
for interest.
In FIG. 8, approximately 22 putting lanes P are located adjacent to the
chipping or pitching greens C. Each putting green is elongated, for
example 14 yards long, including pin area, and 3 yards wide. Each putting
lane is marked off at 10 foot intervals from its pin. Thus, each player
who lands his ball on his fairway target green in fairway play may place a
ball on one of the "P" putting lanes corresponding to the distance from
the pin of his last fairway shot. This concept creates 22 individual
putting lanes in approximately the area of two conventional putting
greens, and provides eleven with sand trap approach play. Each putting
green has its own hole so that there is no cueing of players as in the
case of common practice greens found adjacent to the club house of most
golf courses. The putting green P may be level or contoured. The putting
green allows each of 22 players to simultaneously putt out at their own
hole without interference.
The advantage of the configuration of FIG. 8 is that the chipping and
putting functions which previously took the one entire end of the course
for six chipping and pitching greens and two putting greens now requires
only about two-thirds of the end for many more chipping or pitching greens
C and putting greens P. This allows more players to play the course at the
same time. Additionally, this allow room on the same space for a club
house, pro shop, starter shop and other amenitites as well as some
pleasant walk areas illustrated in FIG. 8 to the right of the chipping or
pitching and putting greens.
With the elimination of possible tie-ups at the chipping and putting
greens, this invention allows the tees to be more numerous and in fact to
be of double or multiple level. The tee area designated 11 is shown with
22 tees and with a ramp of FIG. 8 to the roof area which may include an
additional 22 tees. It is therefore possible to have a significantly
greater number of players on the course at the same time without
interference with each other.
Most apparent in FIG. 8 are one or more support standards 200,
approximately 50 feet in height, supporting three television cameras
40A-C, and located at or beyond the far end of the fairway, each directed
toward the course and the tees 11. The three television cameras may be
directed, one to left of center, one in center and one to the right of
center, in order to give full coverage for the course. This arrangement of
support standards and cameras is a rearrangement of this item in my
co-pending application. In this case, the directing of the television
cameras toward the field of play and particularly toward the tees gives
additional aid to the player. This aid is more apparent by reference to
FIG. 10 which is a perspective view generally like that of FIG. 4 above,
but the tee generally designated 11 has, on its top or associated with it,
directed toward the fairway, a large illuminatable sign 99 showing visible
to said cameras, the number of the tee. In FIG. 10, the sign shows the
number of tee 12. Each of the elements of the tee shown in FIG. 4 and also
present in FIG. 11 are given the same designation as in FIG. 4. The
difference in the embodiments of FIG. 11 and FIG. 4, in addition to the
illuminated sign 99, is the fact that the photo cell light combination 95,
96 of FIGS. 10 and 11, when interrupted by the player's swing, serves to
energize the illumination of the sign 99. So illuminated, the player, on
completing his swing, can look at the television monitor 92 and
immediately pick up and follow the flight of his ball, as viewed from the
cameras 40A, 40B or 40C of FIGS. 8 or 13, as selected by his selector
switch 93, and see his own tee number illuminated. This shows him
immediately in his field of view, a close-up of the course, plus his ball
in flight, plus his own tee as the originating point of the flight and
final resting place of his ball in relationship with the course markings.
After a period of time, such as 16 seconds, an automatic switch 98 in the
circuit of FIG. 11 terminates the illumination of the tee indicator light
99. This arrangement is believed to be superior to the increase in the
illumination of the entire field which could be distracting to players. In
this case the overall field illumination remains substantially uniform
while the source of each shot is pinpointed by illumination of its tee
sign 99.
Now referring to FIG. 11, the photo cell 96, when the light beam L from
light source 95 of FIG. 10 is broken by player's swing, operates the
switch 97 to illuminate sign 99, and after a time delay switch 98 serves
to reset or turn off light illuminated sign 99. The switch 98 is a timed
light switch having a delay such as 16 seconds.
Now referring to FIG. 12, the three cameras 40A-C on support standards 200
are connected by cables 199, preferably underground, to the tee area 11
and to each of the individual monitors 92, where they are coupled via
selector switches 93 located in each of the individual tees. This allows
the player to select the particular camera he desires to use. Initially,
automatically the monitor shows the view from the center camera, however,
if the player hooks or slices and desires to see his ball when better
viewed by either camera 40B or 40C, he may change to the other camera by
moving selector switch 93. In any case the tee number sign 99 remains
illuminated for the preset period, e.g. 16 seconds, regardless of which
camera the player selects. Other tees with their own monitors are served
by the same cameras 40A-C and respective switches 93-93A-93B.
Refer now to FIGS. 13-16 in which the television cameras 40 A-C are located
on individual poles 200 A-C connected by cables 199 A-C to a switching
control center 208 in which the switching controls of FIG. 11 are located.
The course 10 has targets 16 and range lines 15 with a double directional
marker so as to be visible directed by the player from the tee and
indirectly as viewed by the television cameras 40 A-C at the opposite end.
In this embodiment, the cameras are laterally displaced at the end to
provide different views of the fairway as illustrated in FIGS. 14-16.
In FIG. 14, the normal monitor view is shown in monitor 92 after a player
in the tee No. 12 has completed his swing and his sign 99 is illuminated.
His ball B is shown in flight straight down the fairway as seen by
television camera 40A. If viewed on either other camera, camera 40B in
FIG. 15 or camera 40C in FIG. 16, a slightly different perspective is
present. Although viewing the ball in flight with the monitor requires
visual acuity and practice. The fact that the cameras are located at the
end of the course and the ball is approaching the cameras and is slowing,
bouncing and rolling towards the camera, aids in tracking of the ball.
The use of multiple laterally displaced cameras as in FIG. 13 allows
players in a large number of tees to have one camera in near direct line.
THE METHOD OF PLAY
The method of play in accordance with this invention involves the player or
players making up a twosome, threesome or foursome, paying a fee with the
starter and receiving a fixed number of balls, usually distinctively
marked, and being assigned a tee reserved to him or them until their play
is fully completed.
The player or players make a selection of the prominent course on which
they would like to stimulate play. This is done from a placard of such
courses showing the layout, par distances and par number of strokes
related to each hole for each of the prominent courses. The player and his
partners then note on their G-ByG scorecard the name of the prominent
course and mark the par distances and corresponding par strokes for each
hole related to the course they have selected. This also provides
variation and interest by selecting a different prominent course each time
a new 18 hole play is started.
EXAMPLE HOLE NO. 1 OF PEBBLE BEACH G&CC--385 YARDS
After teeing off, the golfer records the yardage he has advanced the ball
on his first shot. He ascertains this with the aid of the closed circuit
TV monitor located at this tee, and the location of his ball in relation
to the marked off, horizontal yardage lines that are visible to him on the
closed circuit TV monitor. Target greens and circles are not yet involved.
The yardage recorded must be that determined where the ball lies in
relation to the horizontal yardage lines, at 20 yard intervals across the
fairway. If his drive was a sharp slice to the right, he may have hit his
ball actually longer, due to the angle, but he only records the yardage he
has advanced the ball up the fairway. The added length he hit it off to
one side is lost as a penalty for miss-hitting it. Example: His observed
yardage for his drive was 170 yards, he noted the 170 yards on his
scorecard and subtracted that from the 385 yards, leaving 215 yards for
his second fairway shot.
All fairway shots are made from his tee which remains reserved to him and
his playing partners until the round is completed.
For his second fairway shot, he selects the fairway target green (which now
becomes involved in the play), which distance thereto from the tee, is at
the closest yardage that is greater than the 215 yards. Therefore, the 225
yard target green would become his target for his second shot. He selects
the appropriate club for that distance.
He then plays a second ball from his tee toward the 225 yard target green
and observes with the aid of the closed circuit TV the yardage he has
advanced the ball. (Again, this will be the yardage location where his
second ball comes to rest between the horizontal yardage lines located
across the fairway.) He may have hooked a long ball off to the left--but
only records the yardage where his ball lies in relation to the yardage
lines, this being the yardage his second shot has further advanced the
ball directly forward.
Assume his second shot is 183 yards. He notes same on his scorecard below
the 225 yards he previously noted and subtracts the 183 yards from the 225
yards, leaving a distance of 42 yards.
If he has missed his target green but has hit within 50 yards of it, (at
the location around the hole) and if still off the green, he observes the
yardage from that hole and notes that distance on his scorecard.
He then proceeds to the chipping-pitching greens "C" approach area.
He places either his own or an issued marked ball in the adjacent "C"
approach area on one of the 2 sets of "yardage lines" at the location
along the line that corresponds with the distance he has missed his target
green. He then chips or pitches on to the "C" green and putts out.
If he has reached the fairway target green, he notes on his scorecard only
the observed remaining distance in yards that the ball is from the pin.
He then proceeds to the "P" putting green, places either his own ball or a
specially marked course ball on that noted yardage, or as measured in 3
foot strides from a hole on the "p" putting green. He then putts out and
records his total strokes for that hole on his scorecard.
He then walks back to the tee reserved for him and plays the remaining
holes in like manner.
All distances are measured in yards per the course markings or 3 foot
strides.
If, during fairway play, he lands in a fairway sand trap, he marks "S" on
his scorecard next to the noted stroked distance when he went into the
trap. He continues his fairway play as though he had not gone into the
trap. However, after he has reached within 50 years of his fairway target
green but missed it, he proceeds to the chipping-pitching greens "C" and
places his or an issued ball at his last remaining yardage from the
chipping-pitching green pin. He must then chip or pitch into the trap that
is adjacent to the chipping-pitching green "C", play from the trap onto
the chipping-pitching green "C" and putt out.
If he has an "S" during his fairway play and does not miss his target
green, he must first toss his ball into the sand trap adjacent to the
putting green "P" and play out onto the putting green "P", putt out and
record his total strokes for that hole.
If he misses his `Target Green` and lands in the adjacent sand trap then at
the putting green `P` he must first toss his ball into the sand trap at
`P` and play out onto the putting green `P` and putt out.
When a golfer's ball lands in the rough, he plays his next ball at his tee
off of the rough pad.
If the ball lands in a watertrap, he marks a small "w" on his scorecard
next to the noted stroked distance and counts one stroke penalty.
When the ball hits the side boundary, he marks a small "b" on his scorecard
next to the noted stroked distance for that hole and he takes a two stroke
penalty.
When his fairway shot sends the ball into the rough, the player marks a
small "r" on his scorecard and plays his next shot from the `rough` pad at
his tee.
Following this procedure, the full round of golf proceeds for each player.
Play in my improved course is facilitated using the improved scorecards
shown in FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 as well as the record of improvement card
shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. The scorecard of FIGS. 17 and 18, front and back
respectively, show how the player records the accurate distance of each
shot, his chipping or pitching performance and his putting. There is also
room in each square for indicating the club used. This is a factor seldom
if ever recorded and one which can be important in analyzing the player's
actual performance.
FIG. 19 shows in the example scorecard for simulated play of the first 9
holes of Pebble Beach with the par and distance for each hole indicated,
clubs used, greens hit in regulation, yardage gained, putts taken and
total strokes and penalties. It is possible by using the score cards of
this invention to analyze the round of golf carefully and much more
precisely than heretofore possible with the conventional score cards.
Over a period of time the performance of the golfer should improve, and the
record card of FIGS. 20 and 21 allows a careful analysis of the trend in
the golfer's performance over a period of months. The chart analyzes the
performance with each of the different clubs as well as the putting
performance, and the longest distance hit and the average distance with
each of the clubs. The player therefore, in analyzing his play using the
golf course of this invention, is able to record it more precisely using
accurate shot observation provided through the closed circuit TV, the
scorecard and method of this invention.
The above described embodiments of this invention are merely descriptive of
its principles and are not to be considered limiting. The scope of this
invention, instead, shall be determined from the scope of the following
claims, including their equivalents.
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